Monthly Archives: January 2012

Wanna read my book?

I’m looking for a half-dozen or so beta readers of my manuscript. If you’re interested, please message or email me (me (at) amandamichellemoon (dot) com).  I’m looking for feedback on the overall plot and story, not line editing. I can provide you the document as PDF, word or kindle format, I’ll need your notes back as word or PDF.  And, as an added bonus, I’ll put your name in the acknowledgments section when the book is published.

Great post from The Write Practice

This inspired me tonight.  I hope it inspires you:

The poet-monk, Thomas Merton, said in his New Seeds of Contemplation:

If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men—you may make some money and you may give someone a little joy and you may make a noise in the world, for a little while. If you write for yourself, you can read what you yourself have written and after ten minutes you will be so disgusted that you will wish that you were dead.

I walk in the cold. It stings and soon my cheeks grow so numb I can no longer enunciate my P’s and  M’s. The holly shrubs are the only green thing here, and the skeleton fingers of trees reach up to the bluefrozen sky as if they pray for warmth. They will pray through the darkness of night and get none.

How to Catch More Life in Your Writing | The Write Practice.

January 3

Had a great workout at the gym yesterday morning.  3 sets of 15 of eacc:

  • Lunges
  • 10lb bicep curls.  Found my lower traps during the middle of the second set, and the third set was like a whole new exercise.  Try it- think of unhooking your bra with your back muscles to pull your shoulders down and back and open up your chest.  Now lift.
  • 60 lb leg extension.  For the first time in a year I increased the weight on this machine.  I don’t know why these are so hard for me, but they are. Pretty proud of doing three full sets.
  • 30 lb free-weight chest press (30 lbs per arm)
  • 100 lb leg curl
  • 30 lb triceps press
  • 55 lb low row
  • 170 lb leg press
  • 170 lb calf raises

Also did a 30 minute easy reformer workout at home.  Helped with my stomach cramps, but not so much with my sinus headache.

By the numbers:

  • Out: 2850
  • In: 1323
  • Deficit: 1527

 

January 2

Yucky stomach bug kept me from posting yesterday again.  Based on how it’s treating my son, I’m guessing I may be on again off again for a few more days.  But…stomach bug or not, today was a great day, and so far 2012 is fantastic.

Started yesterday with a nice 2 mile run.  It was wicked windy and cold in the shade, and so warm in the sun (60+!) that I wanted to take my shirt off.  Distance was dictated by time, had to get to church. Today I had a fantastic Reformer work out and stretched out my legs.  As much as I was begining to doubt it myself, what they say is true: your IT band will loosen up if you stretch it regularily.  Mine’s almost ready to attack with the roller.  Maybe after tomorrow’s run 🙂

Today by the numbers:

  • Out:  2430
  • In: 1584
  • Deficit: 846

Best writing resolution I have read (so far)

So, I’m a bit behind with my Google Reader.  Right now, I have 410 unread items.  Before your head starts spinning, let me say that I subscribed to something like six blogs today, so right off the top there are sixty posts right there.  And I subscribe to Design*Sponge, which I love, but which posts multiple times a day.  So that right there accounts for…oh…wait…they’ve slowed a bit for the holidays.  That’s only 30.  So, all in all, I’m only behind by about 300.  Luckily, I read fast.  And the kids are finally asleep.

Anyway…on Ask Allison Sarah Jio gives her 2012 writing resolutions.  This one really stuck with me.

Write every day, even if it’s just 10 words: I’ve found that writing is a lot like exercise. If I take too many days off, I’m stiff and exhausted when I try to jump back in. I lack the focus and energy to power through a challenging chapter or scene. But when I open my work-in-progress daily, even if it’s only to write a single sentence and to say hi to my characters, I feel as if I’m still in the story, the rhythm of the project.

Since leaving my day job a little over a month ago, I haven’t written every day, but I’ve written most days.  And let me tell you, I can attest to the fact that writing is easier the more you do it. SERIOUSLY. I promise.